---

name: common-workflows description: Common patterns and workflows for Azure DevOps and database queries. Use to avoid inefficient searches and tangents.

Common Workflows

This skill documents the most efficient patterns for common tasks.

Azure DevOps Workflows

Finding Tickets by Topic

Pattern: Use Search-WorkItems with specific text and filters

Copy# Find stories about "eb sign report"
Search-WorkItems -SearchText "eb sign report" -WorkItemType "User Story" -Top 20

# Get the most recent one
$items = Search-WorkItems -SearchText "eb sign report" -WorkItemType "User Story" -Top 20
$latest = $items | Sort-Object ChangedDate -Descending | Select-Object -First 1

Common pitfall: Searching for multiple terms at once can cause timeouts. Keep searches specific.

Getting Ticket Details

Pattern: Use Get-WorkItem once you have the ID

Copy# Get full details including acceptance criteria
$item = Get-WorkItem -Ids 5015
Write-Output $item.WebUrl
Write-Output $item.AcceptanceCriteria

Searching with Date Sorting

Pattern: Search first, then sort by date in PowerShell (not in Azure DevOps query)

Copy# CORRECT - Sort after getting results
$items = Search-WorkItems -SearchText "committee" -WorkItemType "User Story" -Top 20
$sorted = $items | Sort-Object ChangedDate -Descending

# INCORRECT - Don't try to sort in the search parameters
# Search-WorkItems doesn't have -SortBy parameter

Database Workflows

Committee Queries

Important: Committees are in the Legislature (M2-QA) database, NOT Eva QA

Copy# CORRECT - Use M2-QA for committees
Invoke-EvaSql -Environment M2-QA -Query "SELECT TOP 5 CommitteeID, CommitteeName FROM Committee ORDER BY CommitteeID DESC"

# INCORRECT - Eva QA doesn't have a Committee table
# Invoke-EvaSql -Environment QA -Query "SELECT * FROM Committee"

Note: Committee table doesn't have CreatedDate. Use CommitteeID as proxy for creation order (higher ID = more recent).

Session Queries

Important: Sessions are in the Eva QA database, NOT M2-QA

Copy# CORRECT - Use QA for sessions
Invoke-EvaSql -Environment QA -Query "SELECT TOP 5 * FROM sessions ORDER BY SessionID DESC"

# INCORRECT - M2-QA doesn't have sessions
# Invoke-EvaSql -Environment M2-QA -Query "SELECT * FROM sessions"

Finding Table Names

Pattern: Use INFORMATION_SCHEMA when uncertain

Copy# Find tables with "Committee" in the name
Invoke-EvaSql -Environment M2-QA -Query "SELECT TABLE_NAME FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES WHERE TABLE_NAME LIKE '%Committee%'"

# Find columns in a specific table
Invoke-EvaSql -Environment M2-QA -Query "SELECT COLUMN_NAME, DATA_TYPE FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS WHERE TABLE_NAME = 'Committee'"

Quick Reference

Efficiency Tips

1. Always load env vars first - Saves authentication errors
2. Check which database - Eva vs M2-QA before querying
3. Use TOP N - Limit results to avoid timeouts
4. Sort in PowerShell - Don't rely on Azure DevOps query sorting
5. Get IDs first - Then use Get-WorkItem for full details